Page 41 of Under His Protection

Life was too damn short to waste on anything—both good and bad.

If Nina had come into my life to be rescued from a promise to the bikers I refused to work with, maybe she’d rescued me too—from an empty future of utter loneliness.

16

NINA

Nina

The next day, I went back to the gym in the lowest level of the mansion. Before I moved in here, self-care and making my health a priority were a farfetched ideal. I worked too much. I didn’t have money for a gym membership or any equipment.

Here, I felt like a spoiled guest to really get into the addiction of cardio. I suspected that I wasn’t using the weight machines properly, but so far, I hadn’t strained anything.

Running on the treadmill had become my favorite, and it was how Dante found me—again.

Yesterday, he’d caught me when I’d already left the gym. Today, he entered the room and watched me finish my cool down.

I laughed, unable to stop myself. “Are you following me?” I joked. I wasn’t sure how he could’ve guessed that I would be here. Maybe he was following me and I was already that predictable.

“I’ve noticed you like coming down to the gym.” He shrugged, taking his time to look me over as I stopped the machine and stepped off the belt. “I had a hunch you’d be at it again.”

“I think I’m getting hooked on it.” I wiped my face with a towel, but I was still soaked through. As I headed toward the counter to get my water bottle, I pulled my zipped-up hoodie off and tossed it into the laundry bin in the corner. It was drenched, as were my tank top and pants. Removing those layers would feel so good, but I wasn’t ready to reveal that much skin to him.

Just like at the pool, I was nervous to expose myself. It felt too risky.

I drank my water, watching him check me out as I rehydrated.

It was no casual glance. Dante took his time looking me over with an appreciative hunger. His lips, usually so firm with a smirk, curled upward, like he was trying to hide a wide smile.

“Mr. Constella,” I chided as I turned toward the door to leave.

He followed me, brows raised. “Hmm?”

Looking back once, I caught him staring at my ass. And it felt good. Having his attention was the reward I’d been hoping for. Ever since that other night when he came to check on me after the dinner, I’d fallen headfirst into this rampant desire. I wanted to impress him. I wished for him to notice me and like what he saw.

Right now, staring unabashedly at my ass and grinning so wickedly, I knew he did.

“No one’s here.”

He rubbed his jaw, looking up at me. “That’s true.”

And… you like that?

“Then save”—I spiraled my finger at his face as we walked—“that starved-man look for later.”

“Starved man?”

I laughed lightly. “Yeah. Save those kinds of looks for when someone’s watching.”

“Life is too short to save up anything for later.”

His words were cryptic, but not alarmingly so.

“So, if I want to look my fill of your tempting body…” He dropped his gaze to my breasts. As if feeling his stare, my nipples seemed to point out from under the wet fabric even more.

“Fuck, Nina.” He stopped me by pushing me against the wall so suddenly that my water bottle fell to the ground. It spilled, splashing out on my shoes, but I was glad he remained dry and fine in his suit.

“Mr.—”

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